Solar tracker drive shaft

ABSTRACT

A drive shaft includes an extruded internal tube having teeth formed thereon. The drive shaft also includes an extruded external tube having teeth formed therein and coaxially receiving the internal tube. The teeth of the internal tube engaging the teeth of the external tube, wherein the internal tube and the external tube are aluminum.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation patent application of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/717,652, filed on Sep. 27, 2017, whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.62/400,303, filed on Sep. 27, 2016. The entire disclosures of the abovepatent applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a drive shaft assembly for use in solartracker assemblies and more particularly to a drive shaft assemblyincluding splined extruded tubes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As commonly known, solar panels such as flat panel photovoltaic systems,for example, are used in renewable energy production. Mechanicaltracking systems are employed with the solar panels to cause the solarpanels to “track,” or concentrate towards, rotate or translate with themotion of the sun relative to the earth to minimize an angle ofincidence between the incoming sunlight and the solar panel, thusmaximizing the production of solar energy. For example, the panels arecaused to move by the tracking systems so the solar panels face the sunas the sun moves from the East in the morning to the West in theevening.

A plurality of solar panels is typically coupled to a plurality of barsforming a plurality of solar panel rows. The bars typically runhorizontally (in a North/South direction, for example). The solar panelsrotate about the bars to track the sun from East to West. It isunderstood there are many varying types of mechanical tracking systemsemployed to rotate solar panels along one axis or more than one axis ifdesired. An example of a solar tracking system is described and shown inU.S. Pat. No. 8,459,249, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporatedby reference in its entirety. A drive mechanism is disposed at one endof the rows.

Drive shafts connect adjacent ones of the solar panels in each of therows via gearboxes so the solar panels move in unison to substantiallytrack the sun simultaneously. It is desirable for the drive shafts tolast a significant number of years such as up to 30 years, for example.Also, depending on the geographical location of the solar panels, thedrive shafts need to withstand various types of environments. Typicaldrive shafts are formed with or a power take off (PTO) tube or acombination of a PTO tube and round tubes. Articulating joints or yokeassemblies are typically used to connect each end of the tube or tubesto the gearboxes. For example, a yoke assembly is used to connect theends of each of the tubes to the gearboxes. The materials, compositions,and coatings used to form the tubes and the yoke assemblies are costly.For example, tubes can be made of hot dipped galvanized steel and theyoke assemblies may be formed from painted iron castings havingproperties which meet required torque requirements and endure variousenvironmental conditions, which adds cost.

Additionally, the process of manufacturing the drive shaft tubes isinefficient and costly. The process typically requires components to bewelded which increases manufacturing time and cost. Furthermore, due tovariations in spacing between the panels in the rows, it is typicallydesired for the drive shaft to telescope up to 29 inches, for example.However, the galvanization process may cause imperfections within themating surfaces of the PTO tubes which affects the telescoping.Therefore, it may be required to enlarge an end of the external PTOtube, which increases manufacturing cost and inefficiency.

Furthermore, undesired amounts of lash are present in the PTO tubes dueto a variation of coating thicknesses on the tubes. The variationtypically results from one end of the tube to the opposing end of thetube and from tube to tube due to large clearances between the parts ofthe drive line discussed hereinabove. The clearances further result inlash increasing as the coating wears. Since multiple drive shafts areworking together (such as 27 for example) in a given row,controllability issues can result from the lash.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a durable drive shaft forsolar tracker systems that minimizes cost and complexity ofmanufacturing and assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance and attuned with the present invention, a durable driveshaft for solar array systems that minimizes cost and complexity ofmanufacturing and assembly, has surprisingly been discovered.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a drive shaft assembly isdisclosed. The drive shaft assembly includes an internal tube havingsplines formed thereon. An external tube has also splines formed thereonand is coaxially receiving the internal tube. The splines of theinternal tube engage the splines of the external tube. Each of theinternal tube and the external tube is aluminum.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above advantages of the invention will become readily apparent tothose skilled in the art from reading the following detailed descriptionof an embodiment of the invention in the light of the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a pair of rows of panels of a solarpanel tracking system in application according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic fragmentary perspective view of an end of one ofthe pairs of rows of the solar panel tracking system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a drive shaft for the solarpanel tracking system of FIGS. 1-2 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure, wherein a portion intermediate opposing ends of thedrive shaft is removed for illustrative purposes;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the drive shaft ofFIG. 3, wherein a portion of an outer tube and an inner tube of thedrive shaft is removed for illustrative purposes;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the drive shaft of FIG. 3, takenalong the line 5-5;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the drive shaft of FIG. 3, takenalong the line 6-6;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary length-wise cross-sectional view of an internaltube engaging an internal tube articulating assembly of the drive shaftof FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the drive shaft of FIG. 3, takenalong the line 8-8;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary length-wise cross-sectional view of an externaltube engaging an external tube articulating assembly of the drive shaftof FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description and appended drawings describe andillustrate various exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to makeand use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention in any manner. As used herein, the terms “substantially” or“about” means “mostly, but not perfectly” or “approximately” as a personskilled in the art would recognize in view of the specification anddrawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a solar panel tracking system 100 including aplurality of solar panels 110 positioned and assembled in a plurality ofrows 120 on a support surface such as the ground. In the embodimentillustrated, two rows are illustrated. However, it is understood thesolar panels 110 can be assembled in greater than or fewer than tworows. The solar panel tracking system 100 can define any numerical areaas desired and can define an area up to about 5-10 square miles, forexample. Although, the solar panel tracking system 100 can define anynumerical area fewer than about 5-10 square miles or more than about5-10 square miles if desired. The solar panels 110 can be any solarenergy collection panel or device such as a photovoltaic module or anyother solar collecting devices or solar thermal or materials exposuretesting devices.

As shown in FIG. 2, the solar panels 110 are coupled to a plurality ofbars 112 arranged in parallel to form the rows 120. The solar panels 110pivot about the bars 112 to track the sun. The term “track” or“tracking” used herein refers to an adaptability of the solar panels 110to be positioned relative to the sun or the solar absorbing surface ofthe solar panels 110 being directed towards the sun. When the solarpanels 110 are tracking the sun, an angle of incidence with respect to aray of light from the sun is minimized. An angle of incidence is anangle that a ray of light makes with a line perpendicular to the solarabsorbing surface of the solar panels 110.

The solar panels 110 are driven by a drive mechanism 125 located at anend of the rows 120. A drive shaft 10 extends intermediate each of theadjacent ones of the rows 120 and interconnects each of the rows 120 toeach other and mechanically connects the rows 120 to the drive mechanism125. Each of the rows 120 includes a gear assembly 130 which can includea gear box and a gear rack, wherein the gear box mechanicallycommunicates with the gear rack to rotate the solar panels 110 about thebars 112 to track the sun. It is understood other forms of gearassemblies or other assemblies causing the solar panels 110 in each ofthe rows 120 to mechanically communicate with the drive mechanism 125can be contemplated. Each of the drive shafts 10 extends between andoperably connects each of the gear assemblies 130 of each of the rows120 to each other. The drive shaft 10 shown in FIG. 2 is schematicallyillustrated, but will be described in further detail according toembodiments of the invention herein below.

As shown in FIGS. 3-9, each of the drive shafts 10 includes an externaltube 12, an internal tube 14, an internal tube articulating assembly 16,and an external tube articulating assembly 18. The internal tubearticulating assembly 16 has a tube yoke 20 forming a first part of theinternal tube articulating assembly 16 and an end yoke 22 forming asecond part of the internal tube articulating assembly 16. The externaltube articulating assembly 18 has a tube yoke 24 forming a first part ofthe external tube articulating assembly 18 and a end yoke 26 forming asecond part of the external tube articulating assembly 18.

The external tube 12 has a splined inner surface including a pluralityof teeth 28 extending from the inner surface along a length of theexternal tube 12. Each of the teeth 28 is substantially rectangularshaped. However, it is understood other shapes can be contemplated, ifdesired. In certain embodiments (FIG. 5), a pair of radially opposingones 28 a of the teeth 28 has a width greater than a width of the otherones of the teeth. An aperture 29 is formed in the external tube 12proximate a first end thereof. The external tube 12 is aluminum and isformed from an extrusion process.

The external tube 12 typically has a length in a range of about ten totwenty-four feet depending on the distance between adjacent ones of therows 120 of the solar panels 110. However, other lengths can becontemplated without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.As shown, the external tube 12 typically has a substantially constantdiameter from the first end to the second end thereof.

The internal tube 14 has a splined external surface including aplurality of teeth 30 extending from the outer surface along a lengththereof and forming a plurality of indentations 32. Each of theindentations 32 is substantially rectangular shaped to correspond to theshape of the teeth 28 of the external tube 12. However, it is understoodother shapes can be contemplated, if desired. In certain embodiments,(FIG. 5), a pair of radially opposing ones of the indentations 32includes a protrusion 32 a formed therein extending along a length ofthe indentations 32. Additionally, a pair of radially opposing ones 32b, 32 c of the indentations 32 has a width greater than a width of theother ones of the indentations 32 to accommodate the opposing ones 28 aof the teeth 28 of the external tube 12. More than or fewer than twoindentations 32 can include the protrusions 32 a, if desired. Theprotrusions 32 a facilitate locating proper placement of the internaltube 14 with respect to the external tube 12. An aperture 33 is formedin the internal tube 14 proximate a first end thereof. The internal tube14 is aluminum and is formed from an extrusion process.

The internal tube 14 typically has a length of about thirty-eightinches. However, other lengths can be contemplated without departingfrom the scope of the present disclosure. The internal tube 14 typicallyhas a substantially constant diameter from the first end to the secondend thereof.

The second end of the external tube 12 receives the second end and aportion of the internal tube 14 therein, wherein the splined internalsurface of the external tube 12 interfaces and engages with the splinedexternal surface of the internal tube 14. An interface between theexternal tube 12 and the internal tube 14 typically has a length inrange of about six inches to thirty-five inches. However, other lengthscan be contemplated if desired. The teeth 28 of the external tube 12 arereceived in and engage the indentations 32 of the internal tube 14.

The tube yoke 20 of the internal tube articulating assembly 16 has afirst end 36 having a splined inner surface corresponding to the splinedouter surface of the internal tube 14. The first end 36 of the tube yoke20 of the internal tube articulating assembly 16 receives the first endof the internal tube 14. A second end 38 of the tube yoke 20 of theinternal tube articulating assembly 16 is configured for coupling to theend yoke 22 of the internal tube articulating assembly 16.

An aperture 37 is formed in the tube yoke 20 of the internal tubearticulating assembly 16 to align with the aperture 33 formed proximatethe first end of the internal tube 14. The aligning apertures 33, 37receive a snap portion 52 of a detent 50. As shown, the detent 50 issubstantially U-shaped and includes a pair of legs 54 and an arcuatebase 56. The detent 50 is received within the internal tube 14. The legs54 bias away from each other to engage diametrically opposing portionsof the inner surface of the internal tube 14. The snap portion 52extends outwardly from one of the legs 54 and extends through theaperture 33 of the internal tube 14 and through the aperture 37 of thetube yoke 20 to retain the internal tube 14 to the tube yoke 20 of theinternal tube articulating assembly 16. It is understood other retainingfeatures such as other detents, pins, fasteners, or screws can beemployed to retain the internal tube 14 within the tube yoke 20. Thetube yoke 20 of the internal tube articulating assembly 16 is aluminumand may be formed from a cold impact forging process. In application,the snap portion 52 can be pressed inwardly with a force greater thanthe biasing force of the leg 54 against the inner surface of theinternal tube 14 to release the internal tube 14 from the tube yoke 20of the internal tube articulating assembly 16.

The tube yoke 24 of the external tube articulating assembly 18 has afirst end 40 having a splined outer surface corresponding to the splinedinner surface of the external tube 12. The first end 40 of the tube yoke24 of the external tube articulating assembly 18 receives the first endof the external tube 12. A second end 42 of the tube yoke 24 of theexternal tube articulating assembly 18 is configured for coupling to theend yoke 26 of the external tube articulating assembly 18.

An aperture 39 is formed in the tube yoke 24 of the external tubearticulating assembly 18 to align with the aperture 29 formed proximatethe first end of the external tube 12. The aligning apertures 29, 39receive a detent 51, specifically, a snap portion 53 of the detent 50.As shown, the detent 51 is similar to the detent 50 describedhereinabove with reference to the internal tube articulating assembly16. The detent 51 is substantially U-shaped and incudes a pair of legs55 and an arcuate base 57. The detent 51 is received within the tubeyoke 24 of the external tube articulating assembly 18. The legs 55 biasaway from each other to engage diametrically opposing portions of theinner surface of the tube yoke 24 of the external tube articulatingassembly 18. The snap portion 53 extends outwardly from one of the legs55 and extends through the aperture 39 of the tube yoke 24 and throughthe aperture 29 of the external tube 12 to retain the tube yoke 24 toexternal tube 12. It is understood other retaining features such asother detents, pins, fasteners, or screws can be employed to retain thetube yoke 24 within the external tube 12. The tube yoke 24 of theexternal tube articulating assembly 18 is aluminum and may be formedfrom a cold impact forging process. In application, the snap portion 53can be pressed inwardly with a force greater than the biasing force ofthe legs 55 against the inner surface of the tube yoke 24 to release theexternal tube 12 from the tube yoke 24 of the external tube articulatingassembly 18.

The end yoke 22 of the internal tube articulating assembly 16 and theend yoke 26 of the external tube articulating assembly 18 each include afirst end 43 configured for coupling to the second ends 38, 42 of thetube yokes 20, 24 of the respective tube articulating assemblies 16, 18.A cross pin or fastener 44 can be used to couple the end yokes 22, 26 tothe respective tube yokes 20, 24. Other features such as bearings mayalso be included when coupling the end yokes 22, 26 to the respectivetube yokes 20, 24. The end yokes 22, 26 are aluminum and may be formedfrom a cold impact forging process.

The end yokes 22, 26 each have a keyway formed on an inner surfacethereof. The keyway is configured to receive a key of a keyed shaft 48of the gear assembly 130.

In application, the drive shafts 10 extend between and link adjacentones of the solar panels 110. Each of the end yokes 22 of the internaltube articulating assemblies 16 is coupled to one of the gear assemblies130 and each of the end yokes 26 of the external tube articulatingassemblies 18 is coupled to an adjacent one of the gear assemblies 130.The drive mechanism 125 causes the gear assembly 130 of a first one ofthe solar panels 110 in each of the rows 120 at the end of the pluralityof rows 120 to operate, thus causing the first ones of the solar panels110 to pivot. For example, to operate, the drive mechanism 125 includesa shaft coupled to a worm gear or other gear (not shown) in a gear boxof the gear assembly 130 of the first one of the solar panels 110 ineach of the rows 120. In turn, the gear box of the gear assembly 130engages a secondary gear which is coupled to the bars 112 of the firstone of the solar panels 110 in each of the rows 120. The secondary gearis configured to rotate the first of the solar panels 110 is each of therows 120 in an east to west direction, for example. Simultaneously, thegear assembly 130 of the first ones of the solar panels 110 at the endof each of the rows 120 transfers torque to the drive shaft 10 causingthe drive shaft 10 to rotate. The torque transferred to the drive shaft10 is then transferred to the gear assembly 130 of the solar panels 110adjacent the solar panels 110 at the end of each of the rows 120 topivot simultaneously with the solar panels 110 at the end of the rows120 substantially equally. For example, the drive shaft 10 is coupled tothe gear box of the gear assembly of the solar panels 110 adjacent thesolar panels 110 at the end of each of the rows 120 to pivot associatedsolar panels 110 in the same manner as described hereinabove regardingthe solar panels 110 at the end of each of the rows 120. The torque isthen transferred successively in a similar manner to each of theremaining ones of the solar panels 110 in each of the rows 120 to causeall of the solar panels 110 in each of the rows 120 to pivotsimultaneously substantially equally.

Advantageously, the tubes 12, 14 formed from aluminum and by extrusionprocess permit an efficient telescoping of the drive shaft 10 toaccommodate variations in spacing of the solar panels 110 in each of therows 120 during installation of the drive shafts 10. The aluminum tubes12, 14 minimizes weight and thus shipping and handling costs associatedwith the tubes 12, 14. Additionally, application of a corrosionresistant coating is avoided and lash on the drive shaft 10 is minimizedby using the aluminum tubes 12, 14 and the aluminum yokes 20, 22, 24, 26due to tighter tolerances on the extruded tubes 12, 14. In certainexamples, the lash between the tubes 12, 14 can be reduced by up toabout 81% from known drive shafts.

Furthermore, the aluminum tubes 12, 14 allow for easier manufacturing byminimizing the parts and the steps required to assemble the drive shaft10, minimizing a weight of the drive shaft 10, while also minimizingmanufacturing costs. In certain examples, the cost of manufacturing thedrive shaft 10 of the instant disclosure can be reduced by about 30%compared to known drive shafts. The detents 50, 51 permits ease ofassembly, particularly, ease of assembly of the tube yokes 20, 24 withthe respective ones of the tubes 12, 14. In prior art, a screw fastenersis used instead of the detents 50, 51 which must be coated with a threadlock to assure the screw fasteners do not become loose over time. Thisfeature makes it difficult to install, remove, and reinstall thecomponents of the prior art drive shafts. According to the inventiondisclosed herein, the detents 50, 51 permit installing the drive shafts10 at the job site. In this manner, the components of the drive shafts10 can be shipped separately to the job site which minimizes costsassociated with packaging, handling, and shipping. The articulatingassemblies 16, 18 can be coupled to the gearbox shafts without the tubes12, 14 attached thereto. Such an advantage minimizes a weight of thedrive shaft 10 an installer is required to handle, thus resulting in amore ergonomically advantageous installation of the drive shaft 10 andresulting in more precise and efficient alignment and connection to thegearbox shaft. Additionally, reliability in detecting a deficientattachment can be realized. The drive shafts 10 according to the presentinvention allow the drive shafts 10 to be easily removed and reattachedfor maintenance purposes such as site maintenance such as grass mowing.For example. The detents 50, 51 assure the internal tube 14 does not getlost inside the external tube 12 during handling and coupling of thetubes 12, 14 to each other. The drive shaft 10 according to the presentdisclosure also permits one person, rather than more than one person, toinstall the drive shafts 10 on site.

From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art caneasily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and,without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make variouschanges and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usagesand conditions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A drive shaft assembly for a solar panel trackingsystem comprising: an extruded internal tube; an extruded external tubecoaxially receiving the internal tube; a first tube yoke receiving afirst end of the internal tube; a second tube yoke received in theexternal tube at a first end of the external tube; a first detentcoupling the internal tube to the first tube yoke; and a second detentcoupling the second tube yoke to the external tube, wherein the firstdetent and the second detent include a base portion and a pair ofelongate legs extending from the base portion, and wherein distal endsof the legs of the second detent extend from the base portion of thesecond detent in an axial direction away from the first end of theinternal tube, and wherein each of the first detent and the seconddetent is substantially U-shaped and includes a snap portion extendingoutwardly from one of the legs.
 2. The drive shaft assembly of claim 1,wherein the internal tube has an aperture formed in the first endthereof, the external tube has an aperture formed in the first endthereof, the first tube yoke has an aperture formed therein, and thesecond tube yoke has an aperture formed therein.
 3. The drive shaft ofclaim 2, wherein the snap portion of the first detent is configured tobe received through the aperture formed in the internal tube and theaperture formed in the first tube yoke and extends outwardly from anouter surface of the first tube yoke, and wherein the snap portion ofthe second detent is configured to be received through the apertureformed in the second tube yoke and the aperture formed in the externaltube and extends outwardly from an outer surface of the external tube.4. The drive shaft of claim 3, wherein the legs of the first detent biasaway from each other to engage diametrically opposing portions of aninner surface of the internal tube.
 5. The drive shaft of claim 3,wherein the legs of the second detent bias away from each other toengage diametrically opposing portions of an inner surface of the secondtube yoke.
 6. The drive shaft of claim 4, wherein an applied forceinwardly applied to the snap portion of the first detent releases theinternal tube from the first tube yoke, and wherein the applied force isgreater than a biasing force of the legs of the first detent.
 7. Thedrive shaft of claim 5, wherein an applied force inwardly applied to thesnap portion of the second detent releases the external tube from thesecond tube yoke, and wherein the applied force is greater than abiasing force of the legs of the second detent.
 8. The drive shaft ofclaim 1, wherein the internal tube has an annular array of teeth formedon an outer surface thereof and the external tube has an annular arrayof teeth formed on an inner surface thereof, the teeth of the internaltube engaging the teeth of the external tube to militate againstrotation of the internal tube with respect to the external tube.
 9. Adrive shaft assembly for a solar panel tracking system comprising: anextruded tube having an aperture formed therethrough; and a detentconfigured for engaging the tube to a portion of the drive shaftassembly, wherein the detent is substantially U-shaped and includes apair of legs and an arcuate base between the legs, wherein the detentincludes a snap portion extending outwardly from one of the legs, andwherein the snap portion is configured to extend through the aperture ofthe tube to engage the tube to the portion of the drive shaft assembly,wherein a distal end of each of the pair of legs is rectilinear andengages one of an inner surface of the tube and an inner surface of theportion of the drive shaft assembly, wherein the tube is an internaltube and a portion of the drive shaft is a tube yoke receiving theinternal tube or the tube is an external tube and the portion of thedrive shaft is a tube yoke received in the external tube, and whereinthe tube yoke has an aperture formed therein aligning with the apertureof the tube, the snap portion extending through the aperture of the tubeyoke.
 10. The drive shaft assembly of claim 9, wherein the legs biasaway from each other to engage diametrically opposing portions of one ofthe tube and the portion of the drive shaft assembly.